Shown above are pictures of an amazing 1:11 scale Schorling 2-R refuse body sent in by its creator, Darius Bode of Germany. The image to the left shows a 1:50 scale 2-R model atop the hopper sill for comparison. Hand-fabricated from steel and aluminum, this life-like replica features working hydraulic cylinders that operate the functional packer exactly like the real thing!

Videos have been available on YouTube for some time now, which many readers have undoubtedly already seen. Fortunately, Darius has supplied CRT with a special report on the inspiration for, and making of his realistic model. This five-page article is by far the most in-depth ever featured here at Collectors Corner, and documents how it was built ,complete with photos, illustrations and specifications. I include it here in the unabridged for as supplied by the author, as a PDF download:

Currently residing at the Toy and Plastic Brick Museum in Bellaire, Ohio is this highly accurate model of twenty-five yard Leach 2-R Packmaster built from Lego blocks. Curator Dan Brown informs CRT that it "It is an original LEGOLAND model, one of a kind". This model must have been created by a refuse truck enthusiast, or an individual with an eye for detail as it is instantly recognizable.

Collectors Corner hopes to have more detailed pictures of this superb replica in a future issue.

TONKA PADDLE-PACKERS

The Tonka model 690 was a pressed-steel rear loader with a simple working paddle-packer, open top and manual hoist and was first produced around 1965. Jeff Alterman forwarded this early all-white version found on ebay, which sold for $101.00. All versions featured the 'Turbine' syle cab, later done in dark blue, and then a light blue with white bodies.

A very nice custom recently sold on ebay for $149.00. This is a hybrid of the Nylint Toys Ford cab and chassis and the Tonka 690 packer body, seen in the pictures below. This well-executed mating is far more realistic looking than the radical 'Turbine' cab used on the stock Tonka. The Nylint Ford is a perfect replica of a 1958-1960 Ford C-Series cabover, complete with accurate 'FORD" lettering and badge. Though never sold with a refuse body, these toys would make the perfect foundation for a custom classic model, such as an old Gar Wood or Leach Standard Packmaster.

TONKA FRONT LOADERS

The Tonka Number 140 front-loading refuse truck was issued in 1960, and has long been a desirable collectors item. It features realistic cab styling, based on the 1957-60 Ford conventional trucks, and is easily identifiable by the tapered shape of the body at the tailgate area. This extra-clean example recently sold for $582.00 USD, even without the original packaging!

Even more desirable is the 140's predecessor, the B-203 play set issued in 1959. The set featured a front loader truck with a realistic-looking squared body, which looks very much like the earliest non-compaction front loaders coming out of Southern California in the early 1950s.

In addition to the truck, set B-203 included three detachable containers. Two were refuse bins, and the other a flat street scoop. One or both of these Tonka front loader toys are believed to have been withdrawn from the market at some point, owing to some sort of injury hazard to children.

CHILD GUIDANCE NO.2500 LOAD-MASTER REPLICA

The battery-operated CG Load-Master is probably the most desirable collectors item amongst refuse truck enthusiasts. No other model has ever reached this level of realism, in both function and appearance, and probably never will. In addition to power drive wheels, it has a working ejector and slide-sweep packer blade. The plastic motorized toy was produced for only one year (1970), and had a high attrition rate due to the fragility of its construction. However, it was apparently produced in great numbers, owing to the frequency with which they are offered for sale on ebay.

Those interested in obtaining one of these Load-Masters can take heart: models in all conditions are offered for sale quite frequently. Prices run the gamut depending upon condition. Before bidding, keep in mind that these are fragile toys and often have damage not described by sellers unfamiliar with these toys. It would be advisable to ask questions of the seller if in doubt about the condition. Below are links to some recently closed auctions on Ebay:

This is one of two versions of the Canadian-made Lincoln Toys pressed steel garbage truck, the other being identical but with a green cab and white body. These 1940's era toys are the functional equivalent to the American Structo, but are much harder to find. Thus, their scarcity ranks Lincoln among the most valuable refuse truck toys. The example shown here exhibits some wear, but is intact with good paint and decals for its age. Six bidders ran this one up to a final price of $485.00 on ebay during March.

AMT GAR WOOD LOAD-PACKERS

Some intriguing plastic model kits from the 1970s have recently come to my attention. Shown above is a 1/25 scale Ford C-series with a Gar Wood LP-725-9 packer body from AMT models. This kit is believed to have been in production, but nothing else is known about it at this time.

Next up is a 1/25 scale Ford with the Gar Wood Load-Packer 900 series body. Reportedly, the box was printed in anticipation of the models release, which never happened. This may have been commissioned by Sargent Industries (then owner of Gar Wood) in order to promote their high-compaction refuse body. Sargent divested itself of Gar Wood in 1979, and sold the design rights to the LP-900 to Heil, which may explain why this model kit was suddenly cancelled.

The site from which these images come from is offering prints, coffee cups and mousepads with images of the model box. I have not dealt with the individual or website, so I must caution "buyer beware", but here is the web page if anyone is interested: